Malleable nose bridge strip with a sleeve, and related combinations and methods

ABSTRACT

An apparatus has: a malleable nose bridge strip that is structured to be bent by a user in use into a shape that conforms with a lateral nose profile that extends between opposed sides of a nose and crossing a bridge of the nose; an outer sleeve with an internal receptacle enclosing the malleable nose bridge strip; and a face mask connector on a user-contacting face of the outer sleeve. A method includes securing an outer sleeve across a nose-bridge-seating zone of an external surface of a face mask, the outer sleeve enclosing a malleable nose bridge strip, in which the outer sleeve is secured to the face mask via a face mask connector on the outer sleeve engaging the external surface of the face mask.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to a malleable nose bridge strip with a sleeve, and related combinations and methods.

BACKGROUND

The following paragraphs are not an admission that anything discussed in them is prior art or part of the knowledge of persons skilled in the art.

Aluminum nose bridge strips are known to be applied to a face mask by adhesive, or permanently fit within a sealed pocket in the face mask, to permit a user to bend the strip and the face mask to fit the user's nose bridge.

SUMMARY

An apparatus is disclosed comprising: a malleable nose bridge strip that is structured to be bent by a user in use into a shape that conforms with a lateral nose profile that extends between opposed sides of a nose and crossing a bridge of the nose; an outer sleeve with an internal receptacle enclosing the malleable nose bridge strip; and a face mask connector on a user-contacting face of the outer sleeve.

A kit is disclosed comprising the malleable nose bridge strip and the outer sleeve of the apparatus. A face mask may be included in the kit.

A method is disclosed comprising securing an outer sleeve across a nose-bridge-seating zone of an external surface of a face mask, the outer sleeve enclosing a malleable nose bridge strip, in which the outer sleeve is secured to the face mask via a face mask connector on the outer sleeve engaging the external surface of the face mask.

In various embodiments, there may be included any one or more of the following features: The nose bridge strip comprises metal. The nose bridge strip comprises aluminum. The nose bridge strip has a conformation in which the nose bridge strip has a flat rectangular shape. The nose bridge strip has length, width, and thickness dimensions of between 5, 0.1, and 0.01 cm and 15, 1.5, and 0.15 cm, respectively. The outer sleeve comprises fabric. The outer sleeve comprises one or more of cotton, polyester, woven elastic, or braided elastic, material. The face mask connector comprises hook connectors. The hook connectors comprise low profile hook connectors of 1.5 mm height or less. The hook connectors comprise low profile hook connectors each having at least a J-hook portion. The outer sleeve comprises fire retardant material. A face mask may form part of the apparatus. Mounting the face mask on a face of a user. Bending the malleable nose bridge strip into a shape that conforms with a lateral nose profile that extends between opposed sides of a nose of the user and crossing a bridge of the nose. The malleable nose bridge strip seals the face mask against the user along the lateral nose profile. Reversibly detaching the outer sleeve from the face mask. Re-using the outer sleeve and malleable nose bridge strip to carry out the method again on the face mask or a different face mask. The face mask connector comprises low profile hook connectors of 1.5 mm height or less.

The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize each potential embodiment or every aspect of the subject matter of the present disclosure. These and other aspects of the device and method are set out in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a combination of a face mask worn by a user, with the location of the nose and nose bridge strip shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the 2-2 section lines in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded-view of a nose bridge strip and halves of a corresponding sleeve.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the combination of FIG. 1 with the location of the nose bridge strip shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the sleeve of FIG. 3 enclosing the nose bridge strip, with the location of the nose bridge strip shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the sleeve of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the combination of FIG. 1 with the nose bridge strip sleeve being partially removed and partially secured to the face mask with the location of the nose and nose bridge strip shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view depicting a J-hook design of a low-profile hook connector.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view depicting dual J-hooks forming a palm tree shape for a design of a low-profile hook connector.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a positioning of the combination of FIG. 1 to permit ventilation across lower but not upper portions of the face mask.

FIG. 11 is front perspective view of a further combination of a face mask worn by a user, with the location of the nose and nose bridge strip shown in dashed lines, and incorporating repositionable ear loops and neck loop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here without departing from what is covered by the claims.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes equipment worn by a user to minimize exposure to hazards that may cause injury or illness. PPE is important as it may mitigate health and safety risks and provide a user with extra protection in the event of an accident or against the elements. PPE is essential equipment to improve safety for employees and minimize exposure to hazards. The most common examples of PPE include gloves, safety glasses, face shields, hard hats, safety shoes, hearing protection, flame-resistant clothing and arc-rated clothing such as hats, coveralls, vests and full body suits. For many organizations, PPE is the primary approach to reducing workplace injuries. PPE may be considered to be the foundation on which well-rounded safety programs are built.

Respiratory PPE is a class of PPE that includes face masks, which may be used to reduce or avoid a risk of damage to the respiratory system by various external components, such as chemicals, particles, or airborne and other pathogens. Respiratory hazards may be unable to be seen by the naked eye, and may have cause severe impacts on the health and safety of a worker in the event of exposure. Respiratory hazards may include particulates, chemicals, gases, vapors, airborne contaminants, biological contaminants, dust, mist, fumes, gases, and oxygen-deficient breathing air. Some respiratory health problems have long-term consequences and dramatically reduce the quality of living due to resulting difficulty of breathing caused by the exposure. Respiratory PPE may include supplied-air respirators, respirators and/or static face masks. The type of respiratory PPE used depends on the severity and type of respiratory hazard present. Face masks are commonly used to prevent transmission of respiratory pathogens, such as viruses like the SARS-CoV-2 virus known to cause the COVID-19 illness. A face mask may limit the volume and travel distance of expiratory droplets dispersed by a user talking, singing, breathing, coughing, or sneezing. A face mask may also filter out particles containing such pathogens from being inhaled by the user, thus decreasing a risk of infection for the user.

The addition of a bendable nose strip built in to a face mask may improve the functionality of the face mask. A nose strip is typically made from a malleable material, such as aluminum or crafting wire, and may be located at a suitable location on the mask so that the strip overlies the user's nose in use. A nose strip allows the user to adjust the shape of the face mask to the specific face contour of the user by bending the nose strip. A nose strip thus helps the face mask to sit more comfortably and securely on the user's face because of the ability to customize the mask to contour to the user's face. Also, by enabling the face mask to fit more tightly to the user's face, a nose strip may help to reduce transmission of pathogens such as airborne viruses. A tighter fitting face mask may also reduce the amount or proportion of unfiltered air that is inhaled and exhaled by the user.

A surgical mask, also known as a medical face mask, is a personal protective equipment worn by health professionals during medical procedures, and more recently the general public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such masks prevent airborne transmission of infections between patients and/or treating personnel by blocking the transmission of pathogens (primarily bacteria and viruses) shed in respiratory droplets and aerosols into and from the wearer's mouth and nose. Such masks may be quite impermeable to moisture. However, such masks may not usually be designed (unless N95-rated) to completely prevent the wearer from inhaling smaller airborne pathogens, but could be still protective by filtering out and trapping most of the droplets that carry them. There is a predominance of evidence that surgical masks protect both the wearer (by filtering the inhaled air) and bystanders (by blocking down forceful exhalations from the wearer that can spread pathogens afar). Surgical masks may be labeled as surgical, isolation, dental or medical procedure masks.

Surgical and non-surgical masks may be made of a nonwoven fabric created using a melt blowing process. Such masks came into use in the 1960 s and largely replaced cloth facemasks in developed countries. The dark blue (or green) side of the mask (the fluid-repellant layer) is typically intended to be worn outward, with the white (absorbent) layer on the inside. With respect to some infections like influenza surgical masks could be as effective (or ineffective) as respirators, such as N95 or FFP masks, though the latter provide better protection in laboratory experiments due to their material, shape and tight seal.

The design of common surgical masks depends on the mode. Usually, the masks are three-ply (three layers). This three-ply material may be made up of a melt-blown polymer, most commonly polypropylene, placed between non-woven fabric. The melt-blown material acts as the filter that stops microbes from entering or exiting the mask. Pleats may be commonly used to allow the user to expand the mask such that it covers the area from the nose to the chin. The masks may be secured to the head with ear loops, head ties, or elastic straps. Filter material in the middle layer may be made of microfibers with an electrostatic charge, that is, the fibers are electrets. An electret filter increases the chances that smaller particles will veer and hit a fiber, rather than going straight through (electrostatic capture). While there is some development work on making electret filtering materials that can stand being washed and reused, current commercially produced electret filters are ruined by many forms of disinfection, including washing with soap and water or alcohol, which destroys the electric charge.

In some cases, nose mask strips are provided independent from the masks the strips are intended to secure to. An independent nose strip may have an adhesive backing that allows the strip to be able to be placed on a face mask. Such a device may be used as a way to complete a face mask that otherwise lacks a built-in nose strip. Once installed, the strips become a permanent part of the face mask.

The use of a face mask may cause ventilation or related problems for the user/wearer. The use of a face mask may negatively impact the respiratory and dermal mechanisms of human thermoregulation through impairment of one or more of the following processes: convection, evaporation, and radiation. A face mask may cause an increase in core temperature directly attributable to the wearing of the face mask. Underlying lung or respiratory conditions of the user may be exacerbated by the use of a face mask. Extra airflow over and across the eyes may also lead to eye dryness, and a drying out of the ducts of the eyes.

One of the issues faced by an individual who wears a face mask in tandem with eye wear such as eye glasses is the potential of the eyewear to fog up and obscure vision therethrough. In many cases, a face mask may direct a release of excess ventilation upward, through a gap or gaps between the upper peripheral edge of the face mask and the user's face, directing exhaled gases toward the user's eyes. The gases exhaled by a user will inevitably contain relatively high moisture content from the user's lungs. Fogging of the glasses may occur when such exhaled gases and moisture come into contact with the relatively cooler surface of the lenses of the eye wear, causing the condensation of the moisture vapor on the surface of the lenses. The use of a conventional nose bridge strip is often ineffective at preventing such fogging. Conventional strips may fail a user in the ability to seal the upper peripheral edge against the face in various ways such as inferior construction of the strip, an insufficient ability or strength to hold shape during use, and an insufficient customizability of shape (for example if it is difficult to form curved or sharp cornered shapes using the strip). A conventional strip may also be improperly positioned on the face mask relative to the unique contours of the user's face and nose bridge area in particular, as each user will have a unique, slightly non-symmetrical face and relative placement of facial features that might affect mask fitting even with a nose bridge strip. Foggy glasses may impair vision, particularly when the user is using a face mask in an environment with an ambient temperature below room temperature, as the relatively colder temperature of the ambient air and rigid structure of the eyewear are more likely to condense water vapor exhaled from the mask.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, an apparatus 10 is illustrated, having a nose bridge strip 12, an outer sleeve 18 and a face mask connector 20. The nose bridge strip 12 may be malleable. A malleable nose bridge strip 12 includes a strip that is pliable and whose shape is able to be reconfigured and will remain without external influence, above a predetermined threshold, in such reconfiguration thereafter. Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the outer sleeve 18 may define an internal receptacle 18A enclosing the malleable nose bridge strip 12. The outer sleeve 18 may have a face mask connector 20 on a user-contacting face 20A of the outer sleeve 18. The outer sleeve 18 may be secured to the face mask 14 in use via face mask connector 20 engaging the external surface (such as face 14B) of the face mask 14. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, 4, and 7, in use, the face mask 14 may be mounted on the face 21 of a user, for example if face mask connector 20 secures to an external face 14B of the face mask 14, the face 14B being opposite an internal of face contact face 14A of the mask 14. The mask 14 may also define a peripheral edge 23, with a top portion 23A extending in use along the user's nose 22 and face 21. The sleeve 18 may be secured across a nose-bridge-seating zone 38 of the external surface (face 14B) of a face mask 14. Referring to FIG. 2, the strip 12 may be structured to be bent by a user in use into a shape that conforms to a lateral nose profile 40 extending between opposed sides 22A of a nose 22 and crossing a bridge 22B of the nose 22. Bending of the malleable nose bridge strip 12 may be carried out before, during, or after the face mask 14 is positioned on the user's face 21, and/or before, during, or after the sleeve 18 is connected to the face mask 14. Bending of the strip 12 may cause the apparatus 10, with or without the face mask 14 depending on if the mask 14 is present, to be molded into a shape that conforms to a lateral nose profile extending between opposed sides of a nose 22 of the user and crossing a bridge of the nose 22.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, when in use, the sleeve 18 may be attached to the face mask 14 through the use of a suitable reversible face mask connector 20. The connector 20 may be a suitable connector that is intended to secure the sleeve 18 to the mask 14 in a fashion that allows the sleeve 18 to be reversibly detached, for example in a convenient fashion. A reversible connection permits the sleeve 18 to be connected to the face mask 14 to a degree sufficient to retain the sleeve 18 in use at the desired position on the mask 14 until the user desires to remove the sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 may thus be connected by a relatively low degree of permanence, and can be removed without the use of tools, without causing damage to any of the parts of the apparatus 10, and in a fashion that permits the sleeve 18 to be re-used for example repositioned and re-secured to the mask 14 or another mask 14 as the case may be. The face mask connector 20 may thus be selected to not be exhausted during the detachment process, meaning that it may be able to be reused. The reusability of the face mask connector 20 may allow for the re-use of the outer sleeve 18 and malleable nose bridge strip 12 in order to carry out the method of attachment again. One example of a suitable connector 20 is a hook connector. The face mask connector 20 may be structured to be able to detach from the face mask 14 through the use of external forces. The use of the sleeve 18 may act to increase the longevity of the strip 12, by distributing bending forces across the length or a portion of the length of the strip 12, instead of concentrating the forces on a point on the strip 12 if the strip 12 were bare. When the strip 12 is bent, the sleeve 18 hugs the strip 12 and bunches near the bend apex, blocking the strip 12 from making sharp bends and kinks.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, 4, and 6-9, the face mask connector 20 may comprise hook connectors 34 (FIGS. 6, 8, and 9). The face mask 14 may contain the opposite connector of the face mask connector 20, for example if the face mask connector 20 contains hook connectors 34, then the face mask 14 may contain or be structured to act as the loop connector (not shown). Hook and loop connectors are a way to connect two separate surfaces to each other. Hook and loop connectors may comprise of two distinct pieces, one with hooks and one with loops. The small hooks catch in the loops when the two pieces are pushed together, causing the surfaces to fasten together. The strength of the bond depends on various factors, such as how well the hooks are embedded in the loops, how much loop-covered surface area is in contact with hook covered surface area, the structure of the hooks and/or loops, and the nature of the force, if any, acting to pull the connectors apart. Referring to FIG. 7, when one or both of the substrate pieces is flexible, such as the sleeve 18, the pieces (in the example shown the sleeve 18) may be pulled apart with a peeling action that applies the force to relatively few hook and loop connections at a time. By contrast, if a flexible piece is pulled in a direction parallel to the plane of the surface interface, then the force is spread evenly, as it is with rigid pieces. Loop connectors may include both loops, that is, a structure that is fixed to a substrate at two points, as well as hooks, to the extent the hooks can act as loops and be hooked by a corresponding hook from the other substrate piece.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, low profile hook connectors 34 may be used. Low profile connectors may have certain advantages over traditional hook and loop connectors. Low profile hook connectors 34 and loop connectors may be up to 50% thinner than traditional hook and loop connectors, which makes them ideal for applications where concealing the fastener is required. The low-profile hook connectors 34 may be able to provide similar strength that traditional hook and loop connectors provide. The low-profile hook connecters may contain hooks 34 that are designed to connect to low profile knit surfaces, such as nonwoven loops. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, connectors 34 may include J-hook connectors 34, such as standard J-hooks (FIG. 8) or palm tree hooks (FIG. 9). The low profile of these connectors may be able to be achieved by decreasing the dimensions of the hook connectors 34 components of the connectors and may comprise using low profile hook connectors 34 of 1.5 mm height or less. The strength of low-profile connectors may be maintained relative to conventional connectors by increasing the number of hooks and loops per unit area. A low-profile hook connector 34 may contain at least a single J-hook portion as in FIG. 8. The low-profile hook connectors 34 may contain more than a single J-hook portion, for example as in FIG. 9, where the hook connector 34 contains two J-hook portions. Hook connectors 34 with two J-hook portions are known as palm tree hooks. In some embodiments the hook connectors may be selected to avoid sticking to clothing, such as polyester or cotton fiber clothing.

Referring to FIG. 5, the outer sleeve 18 containing the nose strip 12 may be formed of a variety of suitable material. The outer sleeve 18 may comprise fabric, such as polyester, cotton, woven elastic or braided elastic. Polyester may provide a light weight and extremely durable option. Elastic material is a common component in face masks. Woven elastics are more likely to be used over braided and knit elastics as they are suitable for casings/sleeves. Braided elastics may also be suitable for casings/sleeves and may be used, however, braided elastics tend to lose their stretch when sewn through, whereas woven elastics may not. The use of a tightly woven material for the sleeve 18 may prevent the face mask connector 20 portion of the sleeve 18 from attaching to other parts of the sleeve 18. This is because the low-profile hook connectors 34 may attach to non-woven materials, as this type of material may have more loops readily available to interlock with the hook connectors 34. This feature of the low-profile hook connectors 34 may prevent them from snagging to other portions of the outer sleeve 18 as well as the user's clothing.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, 4, 7, and 10, the attachment of the apparatus 10 to the face mask 14, through the face mask connector 20, may cause the face mask 14 to conform to the contour of the user's nose 22, to prevent or reduce exhaled gases and moisture from crossing the top portion 23A of the peripheral edge 23 of the face mask 14 in use. Such may allow the malleable nose bridge strip 12 to effectively seal the face mask 14 against the user along the lateral nose 22 profile. By avoiding exhalation and ventilation of gases upward toward the user's eyes (not shown), pathogenic transmission, and fog production on the user's glasses 52 (FIG. 10), may be reduced or eliminated. The use of a customizable, repositionable and reusable strip 12 may provide the user with the ability to regulate the level and orientation of ventilation of the mask 14.

Referring to FIG. 10, the use of sleeve 18 may permit the user to adjust the position of the face mask 14 on the face 21, for example to adjust fit and/or ventilation. The strip 12 may be provided with sufficient malleability and strength, for example to hold the user's nasal ala slightly closed, to grip the user's nose 22. By providing such a grip, the sleeve 18 may hold the face mask 14 in a variety of configurations. In the example shown, the face mask 14 is held such that a ventilation seal is formed along the profile 40, whereas the base of the face mask 14 is pivoted relatively outward to space a bottom portion 23B of the peripheral edge 23 from a jaw 24 of the user, to define a lower ventilation gap 50 therethrough. The orientation shown may be achieved by drawing the mask 14 upward toward the glabella 22C of the nose 22. By sealing off the top of the mask 14, and opening up the bottom of the mask 14, the apparatus 10 thus redirects ventilation out and in the mask through the bottom and not the top. The orientation of the face mask 14, and particularly the size of the gap 50 may be adjusted by using the sleeve 18 to grip different parts of the mask 14 or to grip different parts of the nose 22. Because the sleeve 18 may be repositioned as desired, the user is permitted to experiment to customize the fit and achieve the optimal fit desired by that user, without exhausting the function of the sleeve 18. The use of a sleeve 18 and strip 12 that connects to the exterior face 14B of the mask 14 may be advantageous to form a seal as the strip 12 indirectly acts on relatively more material than a built-in strip or a naked adhesive strip would act upon.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the strip 12 may have suitable characteristics. The malleable characteristic of the nose bridge strip 12 may allow it to be bent with external forces, and remain in that shape unless it is once again acted on by external forces. This allows the nose strip 12 to be bent to a shape that correspond with the contour of the user's face 21 and then proceed to remain in the given position for the time that the user is wearing the face mask 14. Nose strips 12 may be made from malleable metals such as aluminum (for example an aluminum alloy), iron (such as galvanized iron), metal with a suitable coating such as a polyethylene coating, or tin. In one case a metal was used that was a flat aluminum sixteen gauge dead soft that allows for long term use. Flat metal may be beneficial over round wire twists. In some cases non-magnetic metals are used for example to avoid issues with medical equipment.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the nose bridge strip 12 may have a suitable shape and dimensions. The shape and dimensions of the strip 12 may be selected give shape to the apparatus 10, when the apparatus 10 is not in use. The nose bridge strip 12 may have a neutral, unbent configuration of a flat rectangle as shown. A flat rectangular shape may be planar, and have a plate or slab-like appearance, defined by opposed parallel faces separated by a relatively thin peripheral edge. Suitable dimensions may be provided, for example the nose bridge strip 12 may have length 26, width 28, and thickness 30 dimensions of between 5, 0.1, and 0.01 cm and 15, 1.5, and 0.15 cm, respectively. Other dimensions larger or smaller may be used.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5 the outer sleeve 18 may contain the malleable nose bridge strip 12 within an internal receptacle 18A. The outer sleeve 18 may be formed by a bottom layer (forming face 20A) and a top layer (forming face 20B) secured together. In the example shown the layers are formed by respective sheets. The layers of the outer sleeve 18 may be secured together, for example by stitching 32, adhesive, welding, fasteners, or any other method used to hold the two layers together. The method of fastening the layers together may be a permanent method, that is, one that cannot be undone without damaging part of all of the sleeve 18 or components thereof. In some cases, the strip 12 may be reversibly enclosed within the receptable, for example if a flap is used, or the strip 12 is slid into the receptacle and able to be slid out by reverse action. Similar to the strip 12, the outer sleeve 18 may have a suitable shape such as a flat rectangular shape when the apparatus 10 is a neutral unbent position. The outer sleeve 18 may have suitable dimensions, for example length 26, width 28 and thickness 30 dimensions of between 5, 0.5 and 0.05 cm and 17, 4, 0.45 cm respectively. The sleeve 18 may be structured to have larger dimensions than the strip 12, in order to form a peripheral interface around the strip 12 along with the layers of the sleeve 18 may be secured together to enclose the strip 12.

The outer sleeve 18 may comprise fire-retardant material. Fire-retardant material may include a fabric that may burn relatively slowly and/or self-extinguish, and may also help reduce the heat build up to prevent rapid fire development. Fire-retardant fabrics may comprise either inherent fabrics or coated fabrics. Inherent fabrics may be woven by using a yarn that has been chemically modified to reduce its flammability. Coated fabrics may be fire retardant because a topical treatment is applied to the fabric to reduce flammability. Several technologies may be used to create fire-retardant fabrics: char-forming agents, gas-phase radical scavengers and high-temperature fibers. Char-forming agents may include phosphorous-based fire retardants that can be incorporated into fibers or fabrics. They are primarily used with cellulose fibers such as cotton, rayon or lyocell. When these fabrics are exposed to fire, and the fibers begin to break down into gaseous fuel, the phosphorous agent reacts with the fuel molecules to form a stable, solid char. The char not only consumes the gaseous molecules, which would otherwise be fuel for the fire, but also creates a barrier between the flame and the fabric and prevents the fabric from further breaking down and releasing more fuel. Another technology for suppressing flame is the use of gas-phase radical scavengers. These may include molecules that may be chlorine-based, are part of the fiber structure and have the unique property of forming relative stable radicals when exposed to heat. As fuel radicals are formed, they will combine with the chlorine radicals instead of oxygen and become trapped or scavenged. This deprives the fire of oxygen, one of the required components to maintain a flame. These chlorine atoms are typically incorporated into an acrylic fiber forming a fiber commonly known as modacrylic (modified acrylic). High-temperature fibers may be durable fibers that have a molecular structure that does break apart when exposed to heat until it reaches a temperature of 750 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. They may provide flame resistance by depriving the fire of its fuel by simply remaining intact at the temperature of most thermal events. The fire-retardant benefits may be a part of the fiber's very structure, and as such, may not be able to be washed out or removed.

Referring to FIG. 11, the apparatus 10 may comprise removable ear loops 16. An ear loop 16 may be mounted on a substrate, such as a strip 42, that has a face mask connector 46 on a user-contacting face of the substrate. Each ear loop 16 may be connected to an ear loop strip 42 at one or two ear loop connection points 16A. The face mask connector 46 may comprise a suitable connector, such as a loop connector. The face mask connector 46 may allow the ear loop strip 42 to be repositioned and/or readjusted on the face mask 14, permitting the adjustment of the ear loops 16. The strip 42 may be attached to the face mask 14 through the use of a suitable reversible face mask connector 46.

Referring to FIG. 11, the apparatus 10 may comprise a neck loop 48, for example mounted on the mask 14. The neck loop may be a removable neck loop 48. The neck loop 48 may be connected to a suitable substrate having a suitable face mask connector, such as connector 46 if the ear loop strip 42 connects the neck loop 48 at a suitable neck loop connection point 48A. In the example shown, the use of a neck loop 48 with connection points 48A on both left and right strips 42 connects the two strips 42 together to reduce the chance of the user losing one of the strips 42 and the parts connected thereon. The neck loop 48 may function to hold the face mask 14 when the mask 14 is not in use on the user's face 21, for example to permit the user to temporarily remove the mask 14, such as during eating.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 7, a face mask 14 may comprise material that functions as a suitable connector, such as a loop connector, for the connectors, such as the hook connectors 34, which may be present on the face mask connector 20. The outer layer of a face mask 14, such as a disposable mask, may be made from non-woven fibers. Non-woven fabrics may be materials that have fibers that have been bonded and/or interlocked together. Low profile hook connectors 34 may be specifically designed to interlock with the loops (not shown) created within non-woven fabrics. Woven fabrics, such as button up shirts, trousers and jeans, may not have naturally occurring loop connectors within them, and therefore the low-profile hook connectors 34 are not likely to attach to them.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the apparatus 10 may be packaged at least in part as a kit comprising the malleable nose bridge strip 12 and the outer sleeve 18. Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 7 the kit may contain a face mask 14. Referring to FIG. 11, the kit may include detachable ear loops 16 and/or a neck loop 48.

LIST OF PARTS

-   10 Apparatus -   12 Nose bridge strip -   14 Face mask -   14A Face contacting face of the face mask -   14B Exterior face of the face mask -   16 Ear loops -   16A Connection point(s) of the ear loop -   18 Outer sleeve -   18A Internal receptacle -   20 Face mask connector of the sleeve -   20A User contacting face -   20B Top surface/outer surface -   21 Face -   22 Nose -   22A Sides of nose -   22B Bridge of nose -   22C Glabella -   23 Peripheral edge -   23A Top portion of edge 23 -   23B Bottom portion of edge 23 -   24 Jaw -   25 Mouth -   26 Length of apparatus -   28 Width of apparatus -   30 Thickness of apparatus -   32 Stitching -   34 Hook connector (J hook) -   38 Nose-bridge-seating zone -   40 Lateral nose profile -   42 Ear loop strip -   46 Face mask connector of the ear loop strip -   48 Neck loop -   48A Connection point(s) of the neck loop -   50 Air gap -   52 Glasses

In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles “a” and “an” before a claim feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a malleable nose bridge strip that is structured to be bent by a user in use into a shape that conforms with a lateral nose profile that extends between opposed sides of a nose and crossing a bridge of the nose; an outer sleeve with an internal receptacle enclosing the malleable nose bridge strip; and a face mask connector on a user-contacting face of the outer sleeve.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the nose bridge strip comprises metal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the nose bridge strip comprises aluminum.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the nose bridge strip has a conformation in which the nose bridge strip has a flat rectangular shape.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the nose bridge strip has length, width, and thickness dimensions of between 5, 0.1, and 0.01 cm and 15, 1.5, and 0.15 cm, respectively.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the outer sleeve comprises fabric.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the outer sleeve comprises one or more of cotton, polyester, woven elastic, or braided elastic, material.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the face mask connector comprises hook connectors.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the hook connectors comprise low profile hook connectors of 1.5 mm height or less.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the hook connectors comprise low profile hook connectors each having at least a J-hook portion.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the outer sleeve comprises fire retardant material.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a face mask.
 13. A kit comprising the malleable nose bridge strip and the outer sleeve of the apparatus of claim
 1. 14. A method comprising securing an outer sleeve across a nose-bridge-seating zone of an external surface of a face mask, the outer sleeve enclosing a malleable nose bridge strip, in which the outer sleeve is secured to the face mask via a face mask connector on the outer sleeve engaging the external surface of the face mask.
 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising mounting the face mask on a face of a user.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising bending the malleable nose bridge strip into a shape that conforms with a lateral nose profile that extends between opposed sides of a nose of the user and crossing a bridge of the nose.
 17. The method of claim 16 in which the malleable nose bridge strip seals the face mask against the user along the lateral nose profile.
 18. The method of claim 14 further comprising reversibly detaching the outer sleeve from the face mask.
 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising re-using the outer sleeve and malleable nose bridge strip to carry out the method again on the face mask or a different face mask.
 20. The method of claim 14 in which the face mask connector comprises low profile hook connectors of 1.5 mm height or less. 